Restaurant: Impossible

Restaurant: Impossible is celebrating its 50th episode with an in-depth look at what it takes to make "Restaurant: Impossible" possible. Over the course of 49 missions, millions of viewers have tuned in to Food Network to watch the drama unfold as Chef Robert Irvine combats the issues and the people who are stuck in failing restaurants. This episode will unveil never-before-seen footage, including some of Robert's and his team's favorite, funniest and most frustrating moments. In addition, Robert will revisit several of his toughest restaurants to get updates on how they are doing today.

Chef Robert goes to Joplin, Mo., a town devastated by the worst tornado in recent history, where he has $30,000 and 3 days to transform theBoys and Girls Club and create a thank-you dinner for 1,000 volunteers.

For the holidays, Chef Robert Irvine is heading west to Jackson Hole, Wyo. to visit the City Kids Wilderness Project, a camp in the heart of the Grand Teton Mountains that welcomes at-risk teens from the inner city of Washington, D.C. Robert's giving back by redoing three of their spaces in just three days, updating their 25-year old facilities that are full of broken equipment, disorganization, and under-utilized space. As Robert get to know the campers, he is inspired to add more special surprises and a cook a huge barbecue with help from chef Stephanie Izard.

When Chef Robert Irvine surprises unsuspecting restaurant owners and announces he's there to save their failing business, anything can happen. With no time to prepare for his arrival, these owners often have very honest reactions, from shock to happiness to anger. Robert revisits some of these memorable ambushes, including Lake Arrowhead Sports Grill, Cape Horn Family Restaurant and La Casa Bianca. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how the surprise takeovers are set up and executed, and what went wrong along the way!

In the top 10 most extreme makeovers ever accomplished on Restaurant: Impossible, Chef Robert Irvine helps an Air Force vet's restaurant soar to new heights and faces off with an owner in need of a major attitude adjustment. Robert gets to the root of restaurant tension that may cost the owners their marriage and more.

Robert Irvine revisits Dodge City Steakhouse in Harrisburg, Penn., to see if the owner is delegating responsibilities or trying to do everything on his own like he did when Robert came to his aid in 2011. The owner dedicated his life to the restaurant, and it was all he had. Robert hopes to find that, with more family involved in the business, he has been able to get out of $600,000 in debt and no longer carries all the weight on his shoulders.

Robert Irvine heads back to Campton, N.H., to check in on The Country Cow Restaurant and Bar. In 2014, he helped the two owners navigate through a chaotic situation that led to a shocking resolution. Now Robert wants to see if the current owner has been able to sink or swim on her own.

In 2012, Robert met the couple who owned Gusanoz Mexican Restaurant in Lebanon, N.H. They were deeply in debt after opening and closing several unsuccessful Mexican restaurants, and Robert helped them regain their confidence in the kitchen. Now he's back to see if his lessons are still making an impact.

Robert Irvine heads to San Diego to revisit The Trails Eatery, a family-owned cafe that he helped in 2011. With no obvious problems, Robert had to unravel the cafe's financial issues. Now he hopes to find that they made the long-term changes needed to be successful.

Robert Irvine heads back to Off Street Cafe in Cerritos, Calif. During his first visit in 2011, one of the restaurant's owners, Rose, was ready to retire, but her partner, Robin, wasn't stepping up as the leader the restaurant needed. With an unruly and unfriendly staff, Robin was in over her head, and Robert gave her a crash course in running the business. Now he hopes that she has continued to lead her staff to success.

Robert Irvine goes back to Sapori D'Italia in Fountain Hills, Ariz. In 2012, Robert saved the restaurant's owners, the Manno family, from being ripped apart by crushing debt and a dysfunctional staff. Now he wants to know if they've been able to run the restaurant together or if the pressure has become too much.

In 2015, Robert Irvine made a man's dream come true by remodeling his failing Italian restaurant and retooling his menu. Now Robert heads back to Tornatore's Pizzeria in Orlando, Fla., to see if the owner has managed to keep his restaurant afloat.

Robert Irvine returns to Fishkill, N.Y., and Joe Willy's Seafood House, a family-owned seafood restaurant from 2013. Faced with a hot-tempered owner pushing his wife to the brink, Robert had to renovate both a rundown restaurant and a strained marriage. Now he's back to find out if they were able to recommit to being equal partners in business and in life.

Robert Irvine recounts his top five most memorable restaurant relationships

Robert Irvine heads to Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, to check on Mamma Lucrezia's, where the owner and chef struggled to push family troubles aside and focus on her promising restaurant. He also rewatches an ambush episode at Ellendale's Restaurant in Nashville.

For a second time, Robert Irvine goes all out to help the owners of Rossini's Italian restaurant in Ridgeland, Miss., who are struggling to survive after the pandemic shutdown. Then, Robert is joined by crew members to share a behind-the-scenes look at this emotional rescue and answer viewer questions.

Robert Irvine rolls into Titusville, Fla., to help Loyd Have Mercy reopen after the COVID-19 shutdown. Robert brings new safety protocols, menu items and lessons on leadership to help the owners save their failing restaurant. Then he and his design and construction team share a behind-the-scenes look at this project and answer viewer questions.

Robert Irvine returns to McLanks Family Restaurant in Columbia, Mo., to bring the owners back together after the pandemic wreaked havoc on their family business. Then he and his team reveal secrets and new footage from McLanks before checking in for an update on the restaurant.

Robert Irvine returns to family-owned Drake's Place in Ferguson, Mo., where business has suffered tremendously due to both the pandemic and community unrest. Robert helps the owners expand their business to bring in more revenue, and then he and his team share never-before-seen footage and answer viewer questions.

Robert Irvine heads to Edgar's Restaurant in Akron, Ohio, to help owners Glenn and Albertha raise their business from the ashes of the COVID-19 crisis. Situated on a golf course, Edgar's is losing money daily despite having implemented safety precautions and substantially increasing their takeout business. It will take ingenuity and insight to keep Edgar's from going under, but Robert is ready to give it his all to save this restaurant.

Robert Irvine returns to The Incredible Cafe, a breakfast spot in San Diego whose bad management and lackluster menu prompted his first visit. He's back to find out if the lessons he taught have paid off or if the restaurant is in ruins again.

Robert Irvine revisits the Foxfire Grill in Alexandria, Va., where he first met owners Terri and Jacki in 2019. At that time, Robert found a restaurant that was losing money from too many specials, bad service and an owner stubbornly resistant to change. Now Robert hopes to find Terri and Jacki excelling in their new roles, not back to their old ways

After 20 years in business, the owners of Carmine's Chianti Cow in Port Jervis, New York, had lost their identity and passion, and they were about to lose their restaurant. In 2019, Chef Robert Irvine helped them reinvent themselves as Chianti Cow, a farm-to-table restaurant, and the community support led to a booming business. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Robert returns to see if the owners have been able to maintain their vigor and newfound love for their restaurant.

In 2019, Josephine's soul food restaurant teetered on the brink of financial ruin, after serving the community of Chicago's South Side for over four decades. Chef Robert Irvine helped owners Josephine Wade and her son Victor, but have they managed to keep the spirit of Josephine's alive? Or has this great pillar of the community fallen?

Chef Robert Irvine is headed back to Chandler, Ariz., to revisit the Ginger Monkey, a gastropub he first saw in 2019. It was not only the last restaurant Robert saved before the pandemic, but it also featured Jackson and Monique's engagement, a Restaurant Impossible first! Now Robert returns to see if they've made any progress in the business and if they've finally tied the knot.

Chef Robert Irvine is revisiting The Retro Diner in Muncie, Indiana. When he first visited, owner Rita's health was failing, and her daughter Melissa had joined the business to help. But it turned out she wasn't much help at all. Robert transformed the restaurant and Melissa, but when he goes back to check in, will he find a thriving business or closed doors?

Robert Irvine counts down the biggest restaurant transformations in Restaurant: Impossible history.